Colombia must investigate spying allegations

In response to a story in the Miami daily El Nuevo Herald that Colombian journalists' e-mails and phone calls with international human rights and press freedom groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, were monitored by Colombian national intelligence, we issued the following statement today...

"We are outraged by these wire-tapping allegations," said CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney. "We call on the Colombian authorities to put a stop to this spying on journalists immediately, to conduct a thorough and timely investigation into the accusations and hold those responsible to account. Fear of surveillance has a chilling effect on the Colombian media."